§ Dr. David ClarkTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has any evidence of the occurrence of salmonella enteritides in wild animals; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonI have no specific evidence of occurrence of salmonella enteritides in wild animals. Isolations from wild animals are not required under the Zoonoses Order 1975. It is recognised, however, that animals such as rats and mice and some birds are susceptible to salmonella enteritides.
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§ Ms. ShortTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the latest figures for the number of positive salmonella tests taken by officials of his Department from animal feed mills in the United Kingdom in 1988.
§ Mr. Donald ThompsonMy officials do not carry out sampling in animal feed mills. Protein processing plants, however, are subject to statutory controls including sampling of animal protein.
The latest figures show that of 135 inspections carried out during 1988 at protein processing plants, 17 cases of salmonella contamination were recorded. In each of these cases advice was given on overcoming the problems and when subsequently the plants were re-inspected they were found to be meeting the required bacteriological standards.
§ Mr. FearnTo ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research his Department is undertaking to establish the scale of infection of eggs by salmonella.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 21 December 1988]: In addition to detailed investigations of all reported outbreaks of food poisoning and of all isolations of salmonella in food animals, my Department is working closely with the Department of Health on a co-ordinated programme of research. While the Department of Health through the public health laboratory service is establishing the levels of infections in eggs, my Department is concentrating its efforts on improving the production and processing aspects of eggs.
Field trials are under way to develop a simple rapid test for the detection of salmonella enteritides in birds so that those birds transmitting the organism through their ovaries may be identified.
Amongst other research projects, work is being undertaken on the growth of salmonella in eggs under different storage conditions, and its survival under a range of different cooking regimes.
A working group of Government and industry experts has been established to act as a forum for the exchange of scientific information and to identify areas where further research might be required.